Easily changeable filter holder

ABSTRACT

A combination is disclosed which includes a housing for supporting a light source; support means removably secured to said housing for supporting a filter with respect to said housing, with said support means comprising a split ring-like member having first and second ends biased toward one another whereby said ring-like member frictionally engages said housing, and manually graspable release means for temporarily enlarging the aforenoted ring-like member whereby the ring-like member can be easily removed from such housing when it is desired to replace the filter supported thereby.

3 1e-v5 0R 3,811,752

0 United States Patent 1191 1111 3,871,752

Habinger 1 Mar. 18, 1975 EASILY CHANGEABLE FILTER HOLDER PrimaryExaminer-Ronald J. Stern inventor. Max Hablnger, Landing. NJ. AssistantExaminer jon w. Henry [73] Assignee: Hygro Dynami s Industr s. InAttorney, Agent, or FirmLerner, David, Littenberg Landing, NJ. & Samuel[22] Filed: Aug. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 389,521 [57] ABSTRACT Acombination is disclosed which includes a housing for supporting a lightsource; support means remov- [52] US. Cl 350/318, 24/256, 350/25l ablySecured to Said housing for supporting a filter [51] [11L Cl. G02) 7/00with respect to Said housing with Said pp means Fleld of Search350/311-1519, Comprising a Split ring like member having first and350/245 g 240/151 second ends biased toward one another whereby said285/365 407 ring-like member frictionally engages said housing, andmanually graspable release means for temporarily [56] References C'tedenlarging the 'aforenoted ring-like member whereby UNITED STATES PATENTSthe ring-like member can be easily removed from such 1,754.282 4/1930Owens 350/315 housing when it is desired to replace the filter sup-1,775.l 9/1930 Worsching..... ported thereby. 2.090.086 8/1937 Weiner240/106 SD 2874.430 2/1959 Coldren 24/256 6 Clam, 3 Drawing FlguresEASILY CIIANGEABLE FILTER HOLDER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to lighting fixtures, and more particularly to a filter holderwhich can be easily removed from an associated light housing without thenecessity of physically touching said housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the photographic profession, it is, orcourse, well known that high-intensity lamps are frequently used tofacilitate the taking of pictures. It is equally as well known that avariety of filters are employed in connection with such lamps and thatsuch filters must be frequently interchanged to obtain particularresults. Accordingly, those in the industry have devised variousarrangements for supporting a filter with respect to a lamp enclosure insuch a manner that the filter may be removed and changed at will.Typical prior art arrangements are representatively shown in US. Pat.Nos. 2,616,030; 2,621 ,283; 2,785,291; 2,878,374; and 2,943,187. Suchprior art structures, however, suffer from various drawbacks, includingthe difficulty of manipulation, complexity of mechanism, and high costof manufacture.

Additionally, it will be appreciated that an enclosure such as areflective bowl for a high-intensity lamp becomes very hot when the lampis being used. This problem further complicates the problem of movingand changing filters associated therewith since it is virtuallyimpossible and extremely dangerous to touch the lamp enclosure duringthe filter changing operation. Unfortunately, various ones ofthe priorart schemes for interchanging filters have the further drawback ofrequiring the operator to hold the lamp enclosure during the filtcrchanging operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In contradistinction to the prior art, theinstant invention provides a simple arrangement for quickly and easilychanging filters on a lamp enclosure without the necessity of touchingsuch lamp enclosure. As will be described in greater detail, at theheart of the instant invention is a split ring-like member whichsupports a filter with respect to the lamp enclosure and which includesmanually graspable release means for temporarily enlarging the ring-likemember when it is desired to remove same from the lamp enclosure andchange the filter carried thereby.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object ofthe instantinvention to provide a simple, easily operable arrangement for changingfilters associated with a lamp enclosure.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide such anarrangement which can be easily operated without the necessity oftouching the lamp enclosure.

Other objects of the instant invention as well as a furtherunderstanding thereof may be had by referring to the followingdescription and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is anexploded prospective view of the invention hereof.

FIG. 2 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially inprospective, further illustrating the invention hereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the instant invention in itsassembled condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning to the Figures wherein like numerals areused to designate like elements, FIG. I shows a typical light enclosureor housing 10, frequently known as a reflective bowl, within which isappropriately supported a light source (now shown). As can be seen, thehousing in generally cylindrical in nature and terminates in an outerannular portion 12 against which is urged the desired filter 14 in amanner to be further described.

The supporting arrangement for carrying the filter l4 and urging itagainst the outer extremity portion 12 of the enclosure 10 is broadlydesignated 16 and comprises a generally cylindrical split ring-likemember 18 having first and second ends 20 and 22 which are normallybiased toward one another to maintain the cylin drical shapeillustrated. This bias may be maintained by the natural resiliency ofthe material comprising the split ring-like member, typically metallic,and, as will be further described, may be supplemented by an expansiblebiasing spring 24.

As can best be seen in FIG. 1, the split ring-like member 18 includes aninturned annular flange 26 for supporting the filter 14. It will beappreciated that the rim 28 of the filter 14 will, in fact, besandwiched between the aforenoted flange 26 and the extremity portion 12of the enclosure 10 when the ring-like member 18 is removably secured tothe enclosure 10 in the following manner.

It should be noted that the smallest diameter of the ring-like member 18(when the first and second ends 20 and 22 thereof immediately confrontone another) is slightly less than the diameter of the cylindrical end30 of the enclosure 10. In securing the filter supporting ringlikemember 18 to the enclosure 10, the operator simply telescopes it on thecylindrical end 30 thereof and, in so doing. the slight difference indiameters therebetween forces the ring-like member 18 to slightly open,such that a small space 32 (Fig. 3) will now exist between theconfronting end portions 20 and 22. Of course, the natural resiliency ofthe ring 18, together with the additional biasing spring 24 to befurther described, will attempt to return the ring-like member 18 to itsinitial smaller dia metered configuration, and thereby frictionallyretain the ring-like member 18 around the cylindrical portion 30,thereby properly positioning the filter 14 with respect to the housing10.

The manually graspable release means for temporarily enlarging thering-like member I8 when it is desired to remove the ring-like member 18and change the filter 14 comprises first and second generally L-shapedmembers 34 and 36, respectively. The first member 34 includes a baseportion having a first segment 38 secured on the first end 20 of thering-like member 18 and a second intervally extending segment 40 whichfreely overlaps the second end 22 ofthe ring-like member 18. Anoutwardly directed leg portion 42 extends from the end of theaforementioned second segment 40. In like fashion, the second L-shapedmember 36 includes a base portion having first segments 44 secured tothe second end 22 of the ring-like member 18 and Because of theaforementioned relationship, it should i be appreciated that when onesqueezes the leg portions 42 and 48 toward one another in the directionof the arrows shown in FIG. 2, the net result will be to urge the endsand 22 of the ring-like member 18 away from one another to therebytemporarily further enlarge the diameter of the ring-like member 18whereby it can be easily slid off the cylindrical end 30 of the housing10. Of course, once the ring-like member 18 has been removed from thehousing 10, the filter 14 can be removed and replaced with the entirefilterchanging operation requiring only the squeezing of the projections42 and 48 toward one another and not requiring the operator to handlethe housing 10.

To further bias the ends 20 and 22 of the ring-like member 18 toward oneanother, the aforenoted expansible spring 24 is provided. One end of thespring 50 is secured to the outstanding leg 48 and as best seen in FIG.3, the other end 52 of the spring 24 is secured to the ring-like member18 by being inserted in a preselected one of a plurality of apertures54, 56 or 58 in accordance with the amount of tension desired for thespring 24. In this manner, the amount of frictional force developed onthe cylinder portion 30 of the housing 10 can be easily varied.

Thus, there has been described an extremely simple, easy to operatearrangement for changing filters employed in connection with lamps andfloodlights. In addition to being extremely simple and inexpensive tomanufacture, the supporting arrangement for the interchangeable filtersis easily removable from the associated light housing without thenecessity ofhandling the housing itself.

Although this invention has been described with respect to its preferredembodiments, it should be understood that many variations andmodifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it ispreferred, therefore, that the scope of the invention be limited, not bythe specific disclosure herein, only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination:

a housing for supporting a light source;

support means removably secured to said housing for supporting a filterwith respect to said housing, said support means comprising,

a split ring member having first and second ends biased toward oneanother, whereby said split ring member frictionally engages saidhousing, said split ring member including an annular flange forsupporting said filter, and said housing includes an outer extremityportion which urges said filter against said flange when said split ringmember is frictionally engaged on said housing;

manually grapsable release means for temporarily enlarging said splitring member, whereby said split ring member can be easily removed fromsaid housing, said manually graspable release means comprising first andsecond L-shaped members secured to said split ring member, said firstL-shaped member including a base portion having one segment thereofsecured to said first end of said split ring member and a second segmentthereof freely overlapping said second end of said split ring memberfrom said second segment; said second L-shaped' member including a baseportion having one segment thereof secured to said second end of saidsplit ring member and a second s'eggment thereof freely overlapping saidfirst end of said split ring member and an outwardly directed legportion extending from said second segment; whereby urging saidoutwardly directed leg portions toward one another will cause theseparation of said first and second ends and enlargement of said splitring member; and

further including expansible biasing means one end of which is securedto one of said outwardly directed leg portions and the other end ofwhich is secured to said split ring member for normally urging saidfirst and second ends toward one another.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said split ring member includes aplurality of securing means for securing said other end of saidexpansible biasing means so that said expansible biasing means may beadjustably positioned with respect to said split ring member. wherebythe force generated by said expansible biasing means may be varied.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said securing means of said splitring member comprises a plurality of apertures spaced thereabout, andsaid other end of said biasing means is received in a preselected one ofsaid apertures in accordance with the biasing force desired for saidbiasing means.

4. In combination:

a housing for supporting a light source;

support means removably secured to said housing for supporting a filterwith respect to said housing, said support means comprising,

a split ring member having first and second ends biased toward oneanother, whereby said ring member frictionally engages said housing;

manually graspable release means for temporarily enlarging said splitring member, whereby said split ring member can be easily removed fromsaid housing, said manually graspable release means comprising first andsecond L-shaped members secured to said split ring member, said firstL-shaped member including a base portion having one segment thereofsecured to said first end of said split ring member and a second segmentthereof freely overlapping said second end of said split ring member andan outwardly directed leg portion extending from said second segment;said second L-shaped member including a base portion having one segmentthereof secured to said second end of said split ring member and asecond segment thereof freely overlapping said first end of said splitring member and an outwardly directed leg portion extending from saidsecond segment; whereby urging said outwardly directed leg portionstoward one another will cause the separation of said first and secondends and enlargement of said split ring member; and

further including expansible biasing means one end of which is securedto one of said outwardly directed leg portions and the other end ofwhich is secured to said split ring member for normally urging saidfirst and second ends toward one another.

curing said other end of said expansible biasing means so that saidexpansible biasing means may be adjustably positioned with respect tosaid split ring member, whereby the force generated by said expansiblebiasing means may be varied.

l l k

1. In combination: a housing for supporting a light source; supportmeans removably secured to said housing for supporting a filter withrespect to said housing, said support means comprising, a split ringmember having first and second ends biased toward one another, wherebysaid split ring member frictionally engages said housing, said splitring member including an annular flange for supporting said filter, andsaid housing includes an outer extremity portion which urges said filteragainst said flange when said split ring member is frictionally engagedon said housing; manually grapsable release means for temporarilyenlarging said split ring member, whereby said split ring member can beeasily removed from said housing, said manually graspable release meanscomprising first and second L-shaped members secured to said split ringmember, said first L-shaped member including a base portion having onesegment thereof secured to said first end of said split ring member anda second segment thereof freely overlapping said second end of saidsplit ring member and an outwardly directed leg portion extending fromsaid second segment; said second L-shaped member including a baseportion having one segment thereof secured to said second end of saidsplit ring member and a second seggment thereof freely overlapping saidfirst end of said split ring member and an outwardly directed legportion extending from said second segment; whereby urging saidoutwardly directed leg portions toward one another will cause theseparation of said first and second ends and enlargement of said splitring member; and further including expansible biasing means one end ofwhich is secured to one of said outwardly directed leg portions and theother end of which is secured to said split ring member for normallyurging said first and second ends toward one another.
 2. The combinationof claim 1 wherein said split ring member includes a plurality ofsecuring means for securing said other end of said expansible biasingmeans so that said expansible biasing means may be adjustably positionedwith respect to said split ring member, whereby the force generated bysaid expansible biasing means may be varied.
 3. The combination of claim2 wherein said securing means of said split ring member comprises aplurality of apertures spaced thereabout, and said other end of saidbiasing means is received in a preselected one of said apertures inaccordance with the biasing force desired for said biasing means.
 4. Incombination: a housing for supporting a light source; support meansremovably secured to said housing for supporting a filter with respectto said housing, said support means comprising, a split ring memberhaving first and second ends biased toward one another, whereby saidring member frictionally engages said housing; manually graspablerelease means for temporarily enlarging said split ring member, wherebysaid split ring member can be easily removed from said housing, saidmanually graspable release means comprising first and second L-shapedmembers secured to said split ring member, said first L-shaped memberincluding a base portion having one segment thereof secured to saidfirst end of said split ring member and a second segment thereof freelyoverlapping said second end of said split ring member and an outwardlydirected leg portion extending from said second segment; said secondL-shaped member including a base portion having one segment thereofsecured to said second end of said split ring member and a secondsegment thereof freely overlapping said first end of said split ringmember and an outwardly directed leg portion extending from said secondsegment; whereby urging said outwardly directed leg portions toward oneanother will cause the separation of said first and second ends andenlargement of said split ring member; and further including expansiblebiasing means one end of which is secured to one of said outwardlydirected leg portions and the other end of which is secured to saidsplit ring member for normally urging said first and second ends towardone another.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said first and secondends of said split ring member are biased toward one another by theresiliency of the material comprising said split ring member.
 6. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein said split ring member includes aplurality of securing means for securing said other end of saidexpansible biasing means so that said expansible biasing means may beadjustably positioned with respect to said split ring member, wherebythe force generated by said expansible biasing means may be varied.